If Lagaan 2.0 Was Made Today…Here’s Our Wishlist Of Its New-age Cast Members

Even after 20 years, Lagaan, the film directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar and produced by Aamir Khan Productions is revered by audiences across the globe. The film inspires showing us that with sheer grit and courage of rising above your circumstances and facing challenges head on, you can achieve the impossible. It also taught us to dream big. The film went on to win huge accolades across borders and is a milestone film in the history of Indian cinema for various reasons. The audiences hadn’t seen such an epic unfold on the screen ever before. The film created history for many reasons, one of them was the fact that it was nominated at the prestigious Oscars!

Today, in the times of remakes and sequels, if Lagaan 2.0 was made who all would feature in it. Here’s our wishlist:

Bhuvan – Aamir Khan

We really racked our brains for this one but couldn’t think of anyone better. Aamir Khan is simply irreplaceable. And why would he even need a replacement? If he could play a college student at 44 so convincingly, why won’t he be able to play Bhuvan now. Transformation is his forte, he can mould himself to fit in any character regardless of his age. No one better than Aamir to play this game!

Gauri – Radhika Apte

Just like Aamir, Radhika too is a versatile actor. She can play an urban chick as well as a village belle and sometimes a ghoul too, with equal ease. She can carry off the ‘gao ki chori’ act with great elan, bringing in a rustic but beautiful dimension to it, naturally. She’s done it before in a couple of Hindi films but her role in a Marathi film titled Tukaram is worth mentioning.

Elizabeth – Katrina Kaif

Why look outside for this foreign actor when we have our very own Katrina Kaif. She can play Elizabeth’s character so effortlessly, looking gorgeous riding in those charriots and on horses, teaching the boys some tricks of cricket.

Lakha – Ranveer Singh

The scheming villain, and the one that went on be known as the first match fixer in the history of cricket, by Lagaan fans and netizens, can be played by Ranveer Singh. He can do complete justice to the charcater esayed by Yashpal Sharma in the original.

Bagha – Vicky Kaushal

Vicky Kaushal, with his acting skills, will be the perfect candidate to play the mute but well-built drummer in Lagaan 2.0. Amin Hajee played this charcater in the original version.

Bhura – Rajpal Yadav

Bhura, the charcater was essayed by Raghubir Yadav. In the new version, Rajpal Yadav can easily play the poultry farmer, running around his hens churning out some quirky dialogues.

Ismail – Rajkummar Rao

Ismail, the somewhat vice captain of the Champaner cricket team can be portrayed by Rajkummar Rao. The character was initially essayed Raj Zutshi. In the latest version, Rajkummar can convincingly play the village potter from Lagaan who has a strong supporting voice.

Deva Singh Sodhi – Randeep Hooda

Deva, the mighty character who always stands against the Britishers, be it the battle field or the cricket field. A beefed up Randeep Hooda can do justice to the hatred and rage shown in Deva’s eyes for the unjust establishment. Pradeep Rawat played the character originally.

Ghuran – Makarand Deshpande

Who better than Makarand Deshpande to play this role. He wouldn’t require any artificial beards or hair, neither any prosthetics. He is all set with the look for this particular role of a uncanny fortune teller, played by the late Rajesh Vivek. Unfortunatlely, Rajesh is no more to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of his film. He passed away in January 2016.

Arjan – Jaideep Ahalawat

The village blacksmith gets insulted and beaten up by Captain Andrew Russel, the British officer, who then joins Bhuvan’s team with a vengeance can

be played by Jaideep Ahalawat. The well-built actor who impressed us with his performance in Pataal Lok, will be a perfect choice for this role originally portrayed by Akhilendra Mishra.

Goli – Nawazuddin Siddiqui

The farmer owning the biggest piece of land in the village, and someone whose only concern was his land and his family can be essayed by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The fear of losing out on his farm on account of paying thrice the taxes imposed by the British officer if Bhuvan’s team lost the match, gets him to join the team. Daya Shankar Pandey plays this character in the original and Nawazuddin can reprise it in the newest version, bring the fears and emotions briliantly well on the screen.

Kachra – Deepak Dobriyal

The untouchable, a cripple from the Champaner village, was played beautifully by Aditya Lakhia. His ability to spin the ball gets him into the team that was reluctant to have an untouchable amongst them. But Bhuvan’s advice asking his team to rise above caste discrimination and treat everyone as equal humans, gets Kachra in the team. He goes on to dismiss three British batsmen over a hat-trick, becoming quite a hero. Deeak Dobriyal who has portrayed complex characters in films like Omkara, choice s a good choice to emote this charcater and its hardships in the society.

Ishwar – Pankaj Tripathi

The late Srivallabh Vyas isn’t here today to experience the 20th anniversary of Lagaan, he passed away in 2018. Pankaj Tripathi will be a perfect choice to play the village vaidya or doctor. He’s also Gauri’s father and a strong supporter of Bhuvan. Pankaj Tripathi, with his ace acting skills, can play this calm and mature character to the tee.

Shambu Kaka – Naseeruddin Shah

Naseeruddin Shah will fit the bill playing the old wise man, Shambu Kaka, played by A K Hangal in the original film.

Raja Puran Singh- Atul Kulkarni

Kulbhushan Kharbanda plays the spineless king who gives away easily each time. We see Atul Kulkarni, the experienced thespian playing this role in the mordern version.

Ram Singh – Sanjay Mishra

Ram Singh, the Indian British servant who helps Elizabeth train Bhuvan’s team and who eventually quits the cruel officer’s duty and supports the Indian team openly can be played by Sanjay Mishra.

Yashoda Maa – Neena Gupta

Neena Gupta fits the role of Bhuvan’s mother – Yashoda Maa perfectly well. We can envision her playing the serene mother to the entire villlage, essayed by Suhasini Mulay in the original.